US needs leaders who understand threats

 BOB EDWARDS 

 COMMENTARY 

By Bob Edwards

Gazette Contributor

(Gazette Blog Editor's note: Bob Edwards is a former Michigan State Legislator and former Mayor of Payson.)

America just experienced 9/11 two, granted it is less dramatic since it was stretched over days and not minutes, but make no mistake, it was a severe attack on America  by Islam extremists.

The history of embassies has shown them to be safe havens protected by the government of the countries in which they reside, even countries with governments that oppose America. However, this time the government did not protect them and there are strong hints that they may have even had a role in promoting the attacks.

The above should be a concern to all Americans but an even bigger concern should be that in this world of ever increasing fanatical terrorists we seem to have an administration that turns a blind eye to the growing crisis.

To excuse the terrorist actions on a video is the height of naivety. Yes the video is in poor taste and stupid but humans are a breed that does such things.  By comparison, Islam radicals not only make much wilder statements they cut off heads. The Islam radicals have succeeded in making even the mildest questions about Islam the work of islamaphobes yet they continually rile against and call for the killing of all none Muslims.

Iran and Israel are at a flashpoint threatening a major worldwide explosion yet Netanyahu can’t get a meeting with the president while entertainers can. The attacks on the embassy are excused as a natural reaction to a weird You Tube video for which the administration seems to think America is at fault. Now it seems clear that the UN Ambassador Susan Rice was sent out to deliberately lie to the American people which, if true, should scare every American. Open and honest debate was a principle our country was built on. I understand a politician getting caught off guard or waylaid by a devious reporter and making a misstatement but to make a prepared statement that is a deliberate lie is an erosion in standard that should shake us deeply.

The world is moving to a crisis state both financially and politically. Europe is racing toward a financial abyss and is still stepping on the gas… Greece is toast, Spain and Portugal are in the frying pan, France just elected leaders that will insure they will follow suit and America is using Europe as a financial model.

Politically, Libya and Egypt have moved from despot dictators who were not a threat to America or Israel to despot leaders who call for the death of both America and Israel. The popular uprising in Syria, a country that is a threat to both America and Israel is being ignored just as the popular uprising in Iran was ignored.

America needs leadership that clearly understands the threats we face and is willing to engage in both economic and foreign policies that make sense.